With an opening montage showing sandy beaches, palm trees, surfers and skateboarders, the first episode of "EPIX Presents Road to the NHL Stadium Series" instantly takes the viewer to California to set the scene for an introduction to a rivalry that is as hot now as it ever has been.

Away from the sand and surf are two teams, the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings, which will be featured in the four-part series prior to taking their rivalry outside, to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 21 for the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game.

The first episode of the four-part series opens with behind-the-scenes, on-the-ice, and on-the-bench footage of the last game the two rivals will play before they take it outdoors under the Northern California sky.

The Sharks defeated the Kings 4-2 at SAP Center on Jan. 21 in what was fittingly part of NBCSN's Wednesday Night Rivalry series. EPIX had cameras all over SAP Center to prove how deep-rooted the rivalry between the teams is.

Kane, who is from Vancouver and played his junior hockey locally, talked excitedly about playing in his hometown Tuesday morning. Coach Paul Maurice did not mention Kane in his meeting with the media two hours before opening faceoff.

The 23-year-old left wing has 10 goals and 22 points in 37 games this season, but is minus-7 and hasn't scored a point in his past three games.

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The first episode of the four-part "EPIX Presents Road to the NHL Stadium Series" serves as an introduction to a California rivalry that is as hot now as it ever has been.

The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings will meet at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 21 for the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game this season. The first episode of the series opens with behind-the-scenes, on-the-ice, and on-the-bench footage of the last game the two rivals played before they take it outdoors under the Northern California sky.

The Sharks beat the Kings 4-2 at SAP Center on Jan. 21 in what was fittingly part of NBCSN's Wednesday Night Rivalry series. EPIX had cameras all over SAP Center to prove how deep-rooted the rivalry between the teams is.

NHL.com

Okposo has not played since Jan. 19 against the Philadelphia Flyers because of an upper-body injury. He practiced with the Islanders on Jan. 20, but Jan. 26 the Islanders announced Okposo would miss six to eight weeks with his injury.

Phaneuf won't be in the lineup Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, but he spoke with reporters after the morning skate at Bridgestone Arena and addressed his status.

"Right now it's still week-to-week, to be honest with you, is how we're handling it," Phaneuf said. "But today was a good day. That's about all I can say. If you ask me tomorrow, I'll tell you how I feel tomorrow and tell you when I'll be ready, but I want to get back as quick as I can."

Every Tuesday during the season, NHL.com fantasy hockey insider Pete Jensen will provide you with in-depth forward analysis. From updated weekly top 100 rankings to trending players and more, Jensen will be your go-to guy for fantasy forward advice all season long.

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Vic Howe, the younger brother of hockey legend Gordie Howe and a former player for the New York Rangers, died Saturday at age 85. No cause of death was listed in his obituary in the Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan).

Vic Howe, a right wing, played parts of three seasons with the Rangers between 1950-51 and 1954-55. In 33 games he had three goals and seven points. He spent most of his hockey career playing in minor leagues throughout North America and in Europe.

* The 13-round shootout was the longest shootout in Edmonton franchise history; it eclipsed the previous record of 12 rounds on Jan. 17, 2008 where the Oilers dropped a 5-4 decision to the Washington Capitals.

VANCOUVER -- The designs on the front of Devan Dubnyk's mask have changed a lot over the past two seasons, but as he remodeled his look again after a trade to the Minnesota Wild last month, the portrait of his 17-month-old son on the back remained a constant.

Whether Dubnyk needed perspective amid a nightmare season in 2013-14 that included time in the American Hockey League, inspiration to get back to the NHL, or a break from the mental grind of goaltending now that he is back, he could find it in his son, Nathaniel.

"To see him is the best part of your day so it doesn't matter what else is going on, you can forget about it," Dubnyk said. "In order to come to the rink focused every game you have to be able to let it go on the days between, otherwise you tire out mentally. So to have him there and see him helps, no matter how much other stuff is going on."

Every Stanley Cup contender in every season is interested in filling a need for top-end talent or depth to solidify its position before the trade deadline passes, but the run-up to 2015 NHL Trade Deadline, which is 3 p.m. ET on March 2, likely will put the focus on the sellers for two reasons:

1. Connor McDavid

2. Jack Eichel

"We're having a poor year and there are certain rewards for being real bad this year. I think we're all aware of that," Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said last week on TSN 1200 Radio in Ottawa. "If we ever had to have a down year this is probably as good as any of them."

He's only 17 but he can see the ice so well and he moves the puck and goes to the open ice all the time, so I just think he's a player that is ready to play in the NHL. I'm really looking forward to coaching someone like this.

— U.S. National Junior Team coach Ron Wilson on Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft